PingER Coverage
The sites from which there is PingER monitoring are shown in red below, sites which are monitored by all monitoring hosts (these are referred to as beacon sites and also include monitor sites) are shown in blue, and other monitored remote sites are shown in green. From SLAC PingER monitors about 460 sites, CERN used to monitor about 132 sites, however after re-installing in December 2006) they now only monitor beacon sites (56). ICTP Trieste monitors 105 sites but only has data going back to September 2006. To the right of the PingER map we also show a map which defines how we are assigning countries to regions.
Latin America includes South America, Caribbean and Mexico. We have three monitoring hosts in Brazil (two in Sao Polo and one in Rio De Janeiro) and one monitoring host in Bolivia.The map below shows the location of the sites.
Latin America Compared to the rest of the World
Argentina
In December 2001, Argentina's (RETINA) connected to AMPATH, so the increase in performance to Argentina can be seen from SLAC. Around June 2006 the TCP throughput of Argentina increased significantly. The average RTT reduced from 600 ms to 200 ms. The minimum RTT reduced from 250 ms to 200 ms.The packet loss has also decreased significently.
Brazil
Around Janruary 2001 - July 2001 the loss decreased from 8 % to 1 %. The Average RTT decreased from 375 ms to 200 ms
The TCP throughput improved but it havent stabalized (still lots of variation)
Chile
In June 2001, Chile's REUNA becomes the first LA NREN(National Research and Educational Network) to get connected to the Ampath POP in Miami. As a result the TCP throughput increased significently. Minimun RTT reduced from 230 ms to 200 ms and Average RTT reduced from 725 ms to 250 ms Packet loss reduced from 10 % to 1 %.
Cuba
Poor performance due to satellite link.Average and min RTT are about 800ms. Packet loss is around 2-4 % in 2006
(The only hope for Cuba is to connect to RedClara) RedClara plans to connet to Cuba in the near future
Mexico
July 2003 performance improved . Minumum RTT became stable 100 ms to 60 ms and Average RTT also became stable.
but Janruary 2005 to July 2005 again problem arose
Gutemala
Janruary 2005 packet loss becomes stabalizing >1% April 2003 minimum and average RTT improved
Uruguay
Since Uruguay joined in June, 2005 its TCP throughput has improved. Average RTT reduced from about 325 ms to 225 ms
Minimum RTT reduced from about 270 ms to 220 ms The loss situation hasent seen much improvement
Paraguay
Shift from satellite to fibre at the start of this year
Traceroute from SLAC to Latin American Countries
ALICE and RedCLARA
Since its launch in September 2004, the ALICE project has been a key component in reducing disparities within Latin America by bridging the "Digital Divide" both within the region and with the rest of the world. The project has enabeled Latin American researchers to become key players in the global research community.
On September 1 of 2004, RedCLARA began to provide direct connectivity with 155 Mbps, in "a ring" topology, linking the NRENs of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Panama and Mexico, and connecting them to GÉANT at 622 Mbps throughout a connection between São Paulo, Brazil, and Madrid, Spain.
Minimum RTT and Packet Loss from US to Latin American Countries
Figure shows the Min RTT and packet loss to Latin American countries from SLAC. Mexico seems to have the least RTT and acceptable loss due to its direct connectivity with the US. Argentina, Brazil and Chile are also performing reasonably well. Bolivia, Ecuador and Paraguay are catching up. However Cuba is still stuck to satellite and the performance is dreadful.